KALAMAZOO – In the lobby outside the Grand Ballroom of Western Michigan University’s Bernhard Student Center, students talked nervously Thursday and picked each other’s brains.

“I didn’t know what to say.”

“I only have 10 resumes and I was walking by and this guy just took one.”

“I don’t know which of these to go to. I’m not qualified to do any of this.”

“I’m going to just ask them to tell me about their company.”

Inside, employers said they were looking for job candidates for specific positions or those with some strong skills that would allow them to fit in where needed. They were also looking for those that either had some knowledge of their business or who were at least sincerely curious about it.

“There’s nothing that you necessarily need to know,” said Jamie Russ of job candidates.

But the rental accounts manager for Taylor-based Ryder Transportation said Thursday that he was impressed by a young man who did know his company.

Mark Bugnaski / GazetteColleen Leonard, center, a 21-year-old WMU senior student from Mason who is majoring in business, walks around the job fair in WMU's Bernhard Student Center. Leonard says it's great to gain more experience talking with employers before graduating.

“He had actually worked for John Deere and he knew quite a bit about Ryder and it impressed me quite a bit,” Russ said. “He knew about the process and what we do.”

Among the hundreds of WMU students, alumni and others who attended WMU’s 34th Annual Career Fair at the Bernhard Student Center on Thursday, that was a good way to distinguish yourself, some employers said.

Russ, who is rental account manager for Taylor-based Ryder Logistics & Transportation Solutions Worldwide, said,“We’re looking for management trainees. We have a training course that we can send them to and we’re also looking go a few interns (for logistics and transportation services work).”

Surangi Pradhan, employer relations manager for Career and Student Employment and Services at WMU and co-chair of 2012 Career Fair at WMU, said a record number of employers (172) were taking resumes from what was shaping up to be a better turnout than the 2,500 job-seekers at last year’s event.

“They are current students looking for internships (and) co-ops, or students nearing graduation looking for full-time positions or alumni as well as people from the community,” she said.

WMU Career FairSurangi Pradhan, employer relations manager for Career and Student Employment and Services at Western Michigan University, is also co-chairperson of its 34th Annual Career Fair.

She said the event is seeing more employers looking for quality candidates and, despite the banter outside the Grand Ballroom, the university works hard to prepare students to search for work.

“I think it’s difficult for a student to know what area of work they really want to go into, so there were a few prospects that asked a lot of questions,” said Robin Rozelle, director of human resources for Port Huron-based Mueller Brass Co. “They should always ask a lot of questions.”

Mueller is a maker of brass rods, precision tubing, forgings and other components for such companies as Parker Hannifin.

Unlike Stryker Corp., Denso USA, Perrigo Co., Chase Bank, Whirlpool or even the U.S Secret Service -- all of which had representatives with exhibit booths at the career fair – Mueller isn’t a household name at conventions and career fairs outside the manufacturing world, she said. But it does have jobs to fill for interested people.

“We go into those things know we have to sell our company," Rozelle said.

She said she has had job prospects who are a little bit shy or intimidated and don’t inquire, but a a few on Thursday who asked a lot of questions “and it makes for a good conversation.”